How to program blank magnetic cards

A gym membership card may include an account number that connects the system with data pertaining to whether a customer has paid their monthly membership charge.

Once the data is exported, it is sent to Plastic Resource. We take charge of the entire process, from card creation to printing and beyond. Encoding instructions for magstripes will vary depending on the stripe used. Magstripes come in both track 1, track 2 or both tracks of magstripe think of a track as a line.

The number of characters is generally between 8 and 16 and could require a specific start number. Not sure how to encode your magnetic stripe cards? This process will depend on the POS system you have. At Plastic Resource, we can walk you through the entire process.

Give us a call to get started. Depending on the type of card, design and quantity of cards you choose, your cost per card will vary. Through Plastic Resource, you can get an instant quote online. When appropriate information has been entered, the card is now ready to be written. The card should now contain the encoded information. If you need help with your magnetic stripe encoding requirements, our experienced ID professionals will be happy to assist you.

Talk to one now at You may also contact our team via e-mail. The first step to starting an ID program is assessing your organization's needs. By identifying what your needs and requirements are, you will be able to outline a purpose for your ID program, which will help you determine the printer and card features that you will need down the road.

Click here to find articles on implementing a card program. Single-sided or simplex printers only print on one side of a card while dual-sided or duplex printers can print on both the front and the back of the card. There are several ways to store and access data on plastic cards.

The simplest option is a barcode, which does not require additional equipment to implement. Another option is through magnetic stripes, just like those found in credit cards.

For advanced applications like access control and attendance tracking, a smart card that contains a small chip is the best option. Call an ID expert at today to find out which option is best for your needs. Deciding between in-house ID production and an outsourced ID card printing service is never a straightforward process.

There are several considerations to make, which include cost, staff availability, and data privacy, among others. While both options are equally valid choices, the decision to keep card production in-house or to go with a 3rd party provider really depends on your specific needs. Need Help? Just Ask! Call While it's often called credit card writer software, the software and its hardware are used for many different kinds of cards beyond credit cards. Magnetic stripe cards store data in the form of positive and negative fields on the strip.

A card reader then reads those patterns and translates it into a usable format. A card writer can change the magnetic fields on the card. Magnetic cards usually store data on three tracks that each hold a set of numbers or characters.

A membership discount card, for example, could hold the person's membership number, name and membership expiration date on the three tracks. High Coercivity HiCo cards are durable but can only be encoded once. If the information on the card needs to change, you have to destroy the card and encode a new card. Membership cards and debit cards use this technology. The stripes are black. Low Coercivity LoCo cards can be erased and reencoded when needed. LoCo cards require less energy to encode, but the encoding doesn't last as long, and it can be destroyed easily by magnetic fields.